Welcome to the Film Study from the LSU-Georgia game, won by the Bulldogs, 44-41. There were lots of big plays in this one, almost none of them made by either defense.

The game ended for LSU when Zach Mettenberger's fourth-down pass sailed over the head of a wide-open Odell Beckham. It was nothing Georgia's D did on that play. If Zach brings it down a notch, we might still be watching that game.

As poorly as Georgia's defense played, LSU's was far worse. Numerous coverage breakdowns, ZERO pass rush, and linebacker play that wasn't so much bad as it was non-existent. LSU's linebackers can't get off blocks, at least until the back has achieved a first down. Georgia averaged an incredible 9.1 yards on 35 first-down plays. It never mattered they were only four of 11 on third-down conversions.

Mettenberger was sublime in defeat. I can think of only four poor throws, one of them a bad decision while on the run. But he made some really magnificent ones that only a strong-armed quarterback should dare to attempt. He was sacked four times and made up for two of them with clutch completions.

The game exposed a lot more issues on LSU's defense that aren't going to be quick fixes. LSU coach Les Miles said it's not a talent issue, but this is the midway point in the season and some of these guys look like they can't hack it.

Player of the Game

Zach Mettenberger, who passed for a career-high 372 yards and completed 23 of 37 passes with three touchdowns.

We'll never know because Zach will never express how much this game must have meant to him. He played like it meant something huge.

Georgia has good athletes and Mettenberger carved them up. His best throw came on third-and-22 when he hit Odell Beckham Jr. for 25 yards and an improbable first down from the LSU 17

Georgia had a three-man rush with three deep safeties at the 40-yard line and a line of five defenders across the field at the 25. Beckham was in the slot with Kadron Boone outside to his right.

Beckham ran straight up the field and when he passed Leonard Floyd he turned left into the space between Floyd and Ramik Wilson. Mettenberger fired the ball to the spot where Beckham would be and the timing was perfect. Safety Quincy Mauger came up to make the hit as Beckham turned but was too late to break it up. Mettenberger's accuracy got the ball through a small window and his arm strength prevented Mauger from getting there in time for the PBU.

Offensive Play of the Game

Zach Mettenberger's 39-yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Landry in the third quarter on third-and-9. This play was perfectly executed by the Tigers and got them back into the game mentally by tying the score on one of 10 third-down conversions.

The drive was in danger of stalling after a false-start penalty just before the TD. Landry was the inside receiver in a trips set to the right matched up with safety Josh Harvey-Clemons. Landry used a triple move, inside, outside and then back inside on a post pattern over the middle, easily beating Clemons on his break.

Mettenberger threw his pass to a spot before Landry made his break. Georgia CB Damian Swann closed in from Landry's left and another defender was coming from the right but Landry was moving too fast. Only Swann was able to get his hands on Landry, who easily ran through the diving attempt at the 5-yard line for the score.

Equally important was what happened on the other end of the play. Georgia came with a blitz as Jordan Jenkins went up the middle. OLB Leonard Floyd beat LSU RT Jerald Hawkins around the corner but Jeremy Hill made a heady play to pick off Floyd and allow an extra moment for Mettenberger to step up and make the throw. Hill was lined up to Mettenberger's left but recognized who was going to get to Mettenberger first and crossed in front of Mettenberger to hit Floyd before he made the sack.

Defensive Play of the Game

LSU DT Anthony Johnson's interception and return to the Georgia 33-yard line to set up LSU's second TD. File this one under the broken clock-is-right twice-a-day. It was a fluky play in that Johnson was nowhere near getting pressure on Georgia QB Aaron Murray but kind of stumbled into the passing lane at the right time. But give the big guy credit for snatching the ball out of the air. Most DTs would have only been able to knock it down.

Murray was trying to throw a short pass over the middle to Keith Marshall circling out of the backfield. Lamin Barrow started to blitz as Marshall ran past him, but then took off after Marshall. Murray had an unimpeded alley to throw the ball but just as he did, Johnson moved in front and reached up with one hand instinctively to snag it. It's the kind of pass a QB has to be careful not to throw too hard and that helped Johnson.

Special teams Play of the Game

Odell Beckham Jr.'s muffed punt recovered by Georgia to set up a go-ahead touchdown. It was also a signal that it wasn't LSU's day. This was one of those deflating turning points where things go downhill.

LSU's defense had allowed 306 yards in the first half but started the second by forcing a field goal and then getting a three-and-out. Beckham tracked the punt and moved to his left without making the fair catch signal. He said the wind pushed the ball a little farther downfield than he expected and it caught the bottom of his facemask. The ball did appear to hit a little high up on his chest and he bobbled it.

LSU's Terrence Magee was there and had an excellent chance to bail out Beckham with a recovery, but he was moving too fast to scoop the ball cleanly. As he fell, he knocked the ball over to the right to Connor Normon, who smothered it for the recovery.

Oops Play

Fumble on a center-quarterback exchange with LSU trying to tie the score in the fourth quarter.

Mettenberger had just been sacked on first down and was under center, but bobbled the snap, eliciting terror on the LSU sideline. Fortunately, RB Kenny Hilliard stepped up and made one of the most technically beautiful recoveries, an immediate dive-and-smother. Too bad for LSU he wasn't there for Beckham.

(Triple) Ouch Play

LSU LB D.J. Welter collides head-on with freshman CB Tre'Davious White while trying to tackle WR Justin Scott-Wesley on a 10-yard reception. . . and Georgia converted a fourth-and-2 on the play. . . and DE Jermauria Rasco was flagged for roughing the passer.

Perhaps it should be called the 'Kid-it-ain't-your-day Play. Wesley-Scott ducked to the ground just at the right moment. White, who is 177 pounds, surely got the worst of this from the 226-pound Welter.

Rasco probably felt worse. He made a pretty good play to get to Murray. RT Kolton Houston tried to cut block him and Rasco overpowered Houston, flipping him onto his back with a power move and jumped high to try an bat down Murray's quick throw. Unfortunately for Rasco, he brought his hands down and hit Murray, not really very hard at all. But officials are very keen on protecting quarterbacks from blows to the head after a pass and will toss a flag for even the most affectionate love tap.

Quarterback Report

Mettenberger is doing so many things, perhaps everything, better this season. His bad decisions have decreased, he's confident in his throws, he feels the pressure and steps up at the right times, and he's been very accurate. He had a couple of overthrows and one pass was nearly picked off when he tried a Brett Favre Special, throwing back across his body while moving to the left.

I've already mentioned two of his better throws and here are some more:

He made a great sight adjustment to hit Landry with a throw that exhibits the improved chemistry the two have. Landry was in the slot left on third-and-10 and ran straight up the field. He was soon bracketed on three sides by the 6-feet-5 Harvey-Clemons in front, Tray Mathews behind and Mauger coming from the middle of the field.

Mettenberger lofted the ball into the middle of that triangle, but threw the ball to the perfect spot. He left it short intentionally as Landry turned in full stride and leaped high in front of Mathews, who was sure he was going to get the pick. But he had to get it over Harvey-Clemons, who reached but couldn't get it.

Mettenberger showed he isn't totally dependent on Landry and Beckham. He checked to the perfect play for the Tigers' first touchdown when he saw Matthews coming on a blitz. Kadron Boone was the lone receiver to the left with Swann in single-coverage.

Boone made an outside move and then ran an inside post, using his body to create separation. Swann stumbled a little and was in no position to make the tackle when Mettenberger hit Boone in stride. Mettenberger waited until the last second to deliver the ball before he was hit hard by Matthews.

On the other touchdown from the 4-yard line, Landry lined up as the inside of three receivers and ran a drag route across the middle and Harvey-Clemons followed him. Boone ran the same route right behind Landry into the spot vacated by Harvey-Clemons and Mettenberger spotted it quickly and decisively.

The two Mettenberger would love to have back were overthrows to Beckham. The first came on third down and Beckham was wide open for a TD. The ball sailed on Mettenberger. On LSU's final offensive play, Beckham was wide open on a curl, which would have picked up another first down on fourth and 10.

Zebra report

Be careful what you wish for. Lots of folks get frustrated with officials throwing a lot of flags. "Let 'em play" is the hue and cry. Well, that's just what Matt Loeffler's crew did Saturday.

Talkin' Tigers: LSU's defensive struggles and third down successSports reporter Rachel Whittaker, SEC columnist Ron Higgins and college sports reporter Trey Iles discuss LSU's lack of a pass rush at Georgia, and the impact of their success on third down conversions this season at 59 percent. Tune in Tuesdays and Thursdays for your exclusive look at LSU sports.

I saw numerous cases of holding by both offensive lines. Only one was called, against Georgia (declined). The same went for pass interference. There were lots of chances on both sides for justifiable flags, but only one was called, against LSU's Jalen Mills.

It wasn't a bad call but Loeffler perhaps should have let the roughing the passer call go. It wasn't much of a hit but as I said before, anything close to a head shot attracts the yellow laundry.

First-down doings

*does not include one kneel down

LSU

Run plays - 18*

Pass plays - 12

Total plays - 30*

Yards - 102

Yards/play - 3.3

Rushing - 18-59*

Hill (rush) - 14-46

Passing - 6-8-1, 105 yards

Sacks - 3

Georgia

Run plays - 20*

Pass plays - 15*

Total Plays - 35

Total Yards - 317

Yards/play - 9.1

Rushing - 20-143*

Passing - 10-15-1, 174 yards

Sacks - 0

Formation breakdown

2WR/1TE/2RB - 36

1WR/2TE/2RB - 7

3WR/1TE/1RB - 7

2WR/2TE/1RB - 6

3WR/2RB - 5

4WR/1RB - 3

4WR/1TE - 2

3TE/2RB - 2

5WR - 2

Victory - 1

Wide receiver receptions/targets (includes penalty plays)

Jarvis Landry 10 - 14

Odell Beckham 6 - 11

Jeremy Hill 4 - 5

Kadron Boone 2 - 3

Terrence Magee 1 - 2

Dillon Gordon 0 - 1

Travis Dickson 0 - 1

Name Snaps/Knockdowns/Pancakes

La'El Collins 77/4/2

Vadal Alexander 77/2/0

Elliot Porter 77/2/0

Trai Turner 77/2/0

Jerald Hawkins 77/2/0

Penalty Breakdown: 5 for 40 yards

False start: 2 (Jerald Hawkins, Vadal Alexander)

Roughing the quarterback: 1 (Jermauria Rasco)

Defensive pass interference: 1 (Jalen Mills)

Substitution violation: team

Notes and observations

First quarter

The holding started on the first play. LSU DE Danielle Hunter was grabbed by LT Kenarious Gates while Todd Gurley broke an 8-yard run around left end. . . LSU linebacker play started badly as Welter and Kwon Alexander were blocked out by WRs on a 13-yard screen pass. . . LSU wasn't ready on a 7-yard run by Gurley. Johnson and Ego Ferguson were crushed and Hunter got pancaked by the Georgia FB. . . Murray looked like Drew Brees with several back shoulder throws, including the first TD when Mills had good coverage in the end zone. . . Georgia was all over Hill from the start, Floyd came around the end for the tackle on a 2-yard loss while Jordan Jenkins stuffed JC Copeland's block . . . Hunter cut off the outside as Rasco caught Gurley from behind for a 3-yard loss, one of two LSU tackles for loss. . . LSU countered by using Hill as a receiver, he faked a block and caught a 13-yarder on a Mettenberger rollout. . . Welter overran the hole and Marshall got 13 yards as Johnson was pinned inside by a double team block. . . Georgia's second TD was a great throw by Murray to Bennett at the back of the end zone. White's coverage was not that bad. Safety Ronald Martin failed to get deep enough to help. . . LSU got 23 yards on a circle route by Hill after FB Connor Neighbors motioned outside to pull the OLB that way. TE Travis Dickson ran straight upfield to clear out the zone for Hill.

Second quarter

Georgia dropped Magee for a 3-yard loss with a run blitz. La'El Collins whiffed on Harvey Clemons, while Jenkins came in free. Elliott Porter and LG Vadal Alexander both blocked the blitzing Floyd. . . Johnson forced an incompletion on a zone blitz when he dropped back and blocked the passing lane to Lynch. Rasco got a hand on Murray. . . Mettenberger had Hill wide open on a circle route but got sacked when DE Ray Drew blew past Alexander. . . Lamin Barrow, Lamar Louis and Kwon Alexander all got wiped out by Georgia blocking on a second 23-yard run by Gurley, the play on which he injured his ankle. . . Louis and others were late lining up on a 10-yard run by Keith Marshall and then he got pancaked by David Andrews on a 4-yard Marshall run. . . Mettenberger got sacked while looking for Dillon Gordon, who looked slow running and was double covered. Beckham was wide open on the other side of the field. . . Jalen Collins had good coverage on Chris Conley but was burned for 28 yards on another back shoulder throw. . . Martin was too far inside to help Mills as Reggie Davis slipped behind him for a 24-yard reception, an identical play to the winning touchdown.

Third quarter

J.C. Copeland blasted LB Ramik Wilson out of the hole for Hill to get 11 yards. . . LSU went to Landry on the drag route underneath the zone for 8 yards, and used it successfully the rest of the half. . . On third-and-1, LSU burned Georgia with an option pitch to Hill as Copeland kicked out Matthews and Jerald Hawkins sealed the end. . . LSU ran the ball seven consecutive times on the drive, which resulted in a 39-yard field goal. . . LSU played the run better in the second half. Martin came up strong to stop Marshall for 1 yard and Micah Eugene made a nice open field tackle after Marshall caught a swing pass for no gain. . . White had excellent coverage on Conley but Murray's pass dropped right into his arms for a 31-yard gain. White was beaten over the middle on the next play by Bennett on an incompletion and was then replaced for the second time by Jalen Collins. . . Johnson fought off a block and combined with Jordan Allen to stop Marshall for no gain on third-and-3 to force a field goal. . . Landry got 26 yards on another drag route as he picked up a good block from Gordon near the sideline. . . Hunter made a diving ankle tackle on Marshall for no gain. . . Micah Eugene blew the coverage as he took his eye off Bennett, who ran past him to the end zone and was wide open for a 21-yard TD.

Fourth quarter

Gordon got away with a holding call blocking Floyd on Hill's 5-yard run . . . LSU caught Georgia napping with a quick snap but got only 4 yards on a screen to Landry, who couldn't get a block from Beckham on Swann. . . LSU ran the option again but stopped Hill for 1 yard as Matthews made a strong tackle. Neighbors made a great block on Amario Herrera. . . LSU had great coverage when Murray bootlegged right for an 11-yard run, Mills had Scott-Wesley and Jay Rome was double covered. But Conley came from the slot to block Rasco inside and Murray had plenty of room. . . Mills showed his toughness and quickness as he darted past Andrews to stop Marshall for a 2-yard gain. . . Hunter occupied two blockers, allowing Kwon Alexander to come up with a big stop on Marshall for a yard loss to help force a field goal. . . Hill got a great block by TE Logan Stokes who sealed Drew inside. When Floyd moved inside, Hill bounced it outside and could have walked to the end zone.